Chewing Gum on Yom Kippur

September 10th, 2013

It is permitted to chew gum on Yom Kippur?

Answer:

No, it is not permitted to chew gum on Yom Kippur.

Tasting and expelling food is not permitted on Yom Kippur (Orach Chaim 567), and chewing gum is similar, to a degree, to tasting and expelling. Yet, there is room to suggest that gum is different because it is never swallowed.

However, gum is in fact more stringent than tasting, because according to many authorities it is considered as a form of eating, and a person chewing gum has to recite a berachah before, so that it will be clearly prohibited to chew gum (see here).

It appears, however, that there shouldn’t be a prohibition against chewing already-chewed gum (meaning, gum that was chewed before Yom Kippur) — though I don’t know if anybody would want to do this on Yom Kippur (or any other time).

Share The Knowledge

2 Responses to “Chewing Gum on Yom Kippur”

Moshe DovSeptember 25th, 2017

Would chewing which was already chewed be assur because of maris ayin— people will see you “chewing gum” (eating) on Yom Kippur?!? People will not assume that it is already chewed. I assumed that you were addressing the prohibition of eating on yom Kippur and not side prohibitions. Is this true?

Mission Statement

The purpose of this site is to raise public knowledge of the importance of monetary dealings according to the Halacha. At the site you can expand your knowledge with in-depth articles, and in addition consult online with the rabbis of the Beit Midrash on Halachic issues that interest you.
I hope that you enjoy the site and that it will fulfill its goals.
We await your comments and suggestions.
Sincerely, Rabbi Yosef Fleischman.
Av Beis Din “Nesivos Chaim” & Head of Kollel